To those who said Carol Ann Duffy, I concurr. Fabulous writer! Can even interest (well, not bore) the average 15 year old student.
During her time as Poet Laureate, she wrote a wonderful poem for Remembrance Day called “Last Post”.
I found this when I was trawling through my notes. It makes me smile.
“Another Reason why I don't keep a Gun in the Housel.
The neighbors’ dog will not stop barking.
He is barking the same high, rhythmic bark
that he barks every time they leave the house.
They must switch him on, on their way out.
The neighbors’ dog will not stop barking.
I close all the windows in the house
and put on a Beethoven symphony full blast
but I can still hear him muffled under the music,
barking, barking, barking,
and now I can see him sitting in the orchestra,
his head raised confidently as if Beethoven
had included a part for barking dog.
When the record finally ends he is still barking,
sitting there in the oboe section barking,
his eyes fixed on the conductor who is
entreating him with his baton
while the other musicians listen in respectful
silence to the famous barking dog solo,
that endless coda that first established
Beethoven as an innovative genius.
— by Billy Collins
